Journal of Research and Rural Planning Volume 6, No. 4, Winter 2018, Serial No. 20 ISSN: 2322-2514 eISSN: 2383-2495 http://jrrp.um.ac.ir An Assessment of the Environmental Quality of Rural Tourism Destinations (Case Study: Ghalehroodkhan Tourism Area) Mahdi Hesam*1- Hamid Reza Baghiani2- Mahdi Cheraghi3 1- Assistant Prof. Tourism Management, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran. 2- Assistant Prof. Geography & Rural Planning, University of Yazd, Yazd, Iran. 3- Ph.D. in Geography and Rural Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Received: 12 March 2017 Accepted: 5 October 2017 Abstract Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the environmental quality of rural tourism destinations in Ghalehroodkhan tourism area in Fooman County. Design/methodology/approach: This study was a descriptive-analytical one conducted via survey method. The population of the study included the tourists in the study area. As the total number of the population was not known, to determine the sample size, 380 questionnaires were distributed. Heckman test and factor analysis were used for data analysis. Findings: The results showed that the structural-performance factors, tourist attractions, and visual and environmental attractions were the factors that played an effective role in the environmental quality of rural tourism destinations. Factor analysis was used to assess the environmental quality of the rural tourism destinations of Ghalehroodkhan area. As a result of reduction of 47 variables, five factors were developed including leisure time, attractions, infrastructure, social and environmental factors, with the special values of 18.41, 17.26, 14.67, 11.83 and 9.78 respectively. Research limitations/implications: The high cost of the research and the time required to fill out the questionnaires, with regard to the extent of the study area, were among the main challenges facing the present study. Originality/values: This study plays an important part in consideration of the factors that affect the quality of the rural tourism destinations. Key words: Environmental quality, Fooman County, Ghalehroodkhan tourism area, rural tourism, tourism destinations. How to cite this article: Hesam, M., Baghiani, H. R. & Cheraghi, M. (2018). Ecotourism development with an emphasis on local communities� participation (Case study: The Village of Janat Rudbar, Ramsar County). Journal of Research & Rural Planning, 6(4), 223-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.22067/jrrp.v5i4.63274 *. Corresponding Author: [email protected] Tel: +98919 446 4776 No.4 / Serial No.20 Journal of Research and Rural Planning greater impact, the quality entails the 1. Introduction consideration of all tourism process from the 1.1. Statement of the problem beginning of the marketing through the provision ttention to various levels of of goods, food, information, guidance, urban comprehensive development, namely planning, etc. Each of these products can make an regional development, is a important contribution to the overall level of the precondition for the success of visitors satisfaction (Adina and Bratucu, 2010: A national development. Rural tourism � 101). is one of the economic sectors that The satisfaction of tourists is seen in five aspects has not received the due attention in rural related to quality including expected quality, development. This kind of tourism was introduced perceived quality, determined quality, demanded as an alternative type of tourism along with other quality, and the quality defined by occupational kinds of tourism such as agritourism, green systems); however, there is a gap between each of tourism, soft tourism and ecotourism in the 1980 s � these aspects. There are some interests and (Roknodin Eftekhari & Ghaderi, 2002: 26). In concerns in a tourism destination including the recent years, rural tourism has increasingly gained interests and satisfaction of entrepreneurs, attention as a means of eliminating rural poverty managers, employees, guests, residents and the (Holland, Diexy, & Burian, 2003; Jome-pour & society, which should be consistent and also Ahmadi, 2011:38). Tourism plays an important achieve a quality that satisfies all interests, role in social, political and economic health of because this is the only way to create a high level modern societies (Telfer, 2009; Worthington & of employment in any tourism destination (Vujic, Dollery, 2000). A tourism destination will be 2007). The process of improving the quality, in nonsense if there are no tourists to visit the area, addition to meeting acceptable standards, requires as tourists do not select areas that do not please a close working relationship between each person them (Kahtani, Xia, & Veenendaal, 2011: 1). active in a tourism destination and training Therefore, the quality of the environment in programs, and taking their needs into account which tourism takes place is what really matters. (Adina and Bratucu, 2010: 101). The quality of Discussion about environmental quality has the human settlements, especially the rural become one of the most important research topics tourism areas heavily depend on the quality of the in psychology, tourism ecology and geography. infrastructure and its proper management. This The quality of the environment in rural areas situation can be effective in the mental image and plays an essential role in development, because satisfaction of local residents and tourists. The many behavioral abnormalities in urban and rural mental image of the tourism destination is a factor communities together with historical, cultural and many tourists consider when choosing a economic backgrounds have to do with the quality destination (Kazemi, Samira Pour, & Bitaraf, of their residential and working spaces 2011: 12). Environmental quality entails (Rahnamaie & Shah-hosseini, 2004: 19). The environmental protection, environmental literature on quality of tourism and recreation education, cultural heritage attractions, tourism dates back to early 1960�s. Tourism literature has infrastructure and natural resources for enhancing made various attempts at showing how tourists the competitiveness of tourism destinations (Chin, evaluate the quality of services they receive on Lo, Songan and Nair, 2014: 34). Given the their tours (Shonk, 2006: 8). Providing quality importance of the environmental quality and its facilities and services for tourists is an essential various components in rural tourism development, part of developing a sustainable tourism product, the present study was carried out to evaluate the particularly when it has to do with natural and quality of the rural tourism destinations in cultural heritage. In such cases, the high quality of Ghalehroodkhan area in Fooman County. The the tourism products give cause for satisfaction of main research questions are: A) what are the the tourists, and this may lead to a better holiday factors affecting the environmental quality of experience and a longer stay, and on their way tourism villages in Ghalehroodkhan area? B) How back to home, the tourists may speak to others is the environmental quality of tourism villages in about their experiences and the local cultural Ghalehroodkhan area? heritage (European Commission, 2002). For a 224 An assessment of the environmental quality of ú Vol.6 Visual quality Quality of tourist attractions Structural- Beauty of the Beauty of performance quality environment and the attractions, diversity of Amenities and residence attraction, number of physical structure of facilities, the rural areas, beauty of attractions, perspectives, harmony of original and traditional restaurants and catering the constructions, light in scenes in the villages, services, public the rural environment, historical dimensions of the transportation, pleasing location, facades village, publicizing department stores the attractions Quality of social Environmental quality environment Drinking water, fresh air, Hospitality of the Environmental clean and healthy environm villagers, traditional rural quality of customs, cooperation of tourism ent, quality of green spaces, local guides, sense of the destinations variety of rural mutual trust between the life, garbage collection, sew villagers and tourists, beauty of rural culture and age disposal customs, security, happiness and vitality in rural areas Environmental dynamism Physical structure & Serenity in rural communication networks areas, booming business an Appropriate access roads to d activity at rural areas, tourist attractions, harmony between rural structure and active roads, rural roads and passages, social interactions at village road signs guiding the tourists, , presence of tourists at the safety of rural roads and paths, villages safety of rural tourist attractions Figure 1: Conceptual model of the study Source: Research findings: 2016 1.2 Review of literature study of Asara District, Karaj County, concluded Today, many studies have been carried out by that from the perspective of both local community Iranian and non-Iranian specialists to assess the and tourists, the environmental quality of the environmental quality of tourism destinations, villages in the study area is above the average. some of which are noted below: Sojasi Qeidari, Sadeghloo and Mahdavi (2014) in Sojasi Qeidari and Sadeghloo (2016) in an article an article titled �the role of environmental quality titled �an analysis of the role of environmental of rural tourism destinations in enhancing the quality in attracting tourists to rural tourism mental images of tourists: A case study